Gutter clip and assembly

ABSTRACT

A gutter assembly for a structure includes a gutter, a gutter shield, and a gutter clip. The gutter includes a front wall with a flange, a bottom wall, and a rear wall that define and border a trough. The gutter shield includes a cover portion, a rounded portion, and a wall portion. The gutter clip includes a first portion secured to the wall portion of the gutter shield and a second portion secured to the gutter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates in general to gutters for buildings andother structures, and in particular is concerned with a gutter clip thatsecures a gutter shield to a gutter.

[0002] Gutters for buildings are well known. Many gutters include openhorizontal troughs or channels that receive rain water. Gutters areusually secured to exterior walls adjacent rooflines of a building tocarry away water. Gutters can be connected to closed vertical conduits,commonly referred to as downspouts, drainspouts or conductors, to directwater to a drain or to the ground away from a building. Popular crosssections or configurations for gutters include generally rectangular andsemi-circular designs. Oftentimes, hangers or brackets are used toattach gutters to a mounting surface.

[0003] Modern gutters can be formed by bending a coiled strip ofmaterial to a desired profile and cutting the strip to a desired length.Popular materials for gutters include aluminum, copper and steel. Astrip can be bent by a machine having a series of rollers to produce thedesired profile. Such a machine is commonly referred to as a rollformer.

[0004] Leaves and other debris fall may into the open trough of agutter. When debris accumulates in a gutter, it can tend to clog agutter and prevent the free flow of water. To combat this problem,screens and shields adapted to be mounted on an open gutter have beendeveloped. Such screens can be mounted on a gutter by fasteners andclips or can be positioned between front and back walls of a gutter andretained by front and rear edges that engage respective walls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] This invention includes a gutter clip for securing a guttershield to a gutter. The gutter clip provides an economical and quickdevice for retained a front portion of a gutter shield to a front wallof the gutter. An installer simplifies pushes downwardly onto the guttershield until the front portion snaps into a receiving cavity formed onthe clip.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, a gutter assembly for a structureincludes a gutter, a gutter shield, and a gutter clip. The gutterincludes a front wall with a flange, a bottom wall, and a rear wall thatdefine and border a trough. The gutter shield includes a cover portion,a rounded portion, and a wall portion. The gutter clip includes a firstportion secured to the wall portion of the gutter shield and a secondportion secured to the gutter.

[0007] Various objects and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiment, when read in light of theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a gutter assemblyincluding a first embodiment of a gutter clip according to thisinvention.

[0009]FIG. 2 is an end view of a portion of the gutter assembly of FIG.1.

[0010]FIG. 3 is an enlarged end view of the gutter clip of FIGS. 1 and 2removed from the gutter assembly.

[0011]FIG. 4 is an end view of a second embodiment of a gutter assemblyincluding a second embodiment of a gutter clip according to thisinvention.

[0012]FIG. 5 is a top view of the gutter clip of FIG. 4 removed from thegutter assembly.

[0013]FIG. 6 is a side view of a third embodiment of a gutter clipaccording to this invention.

[0014]FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a gutter assemblyincluding a fourth embodiment of a gutter clip according to thisinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] A gutter clip according to this invention is indicated generallyat 200 in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. The gutter clip 200 secures a front edge ofa gutter shield 100 to a gutter 10. The gutter shield 100 preventsdebris such as leaves and twigs from entering and possible clogging thegutter 10.

[0016] The gutter 10 is mounted on a fascia board or other outer surface12 of an exterior wall adjacent a roofline of a structure or building.Shingles 14 are secured to a roof 16 in a well-known manner.

[0017] The gutter 10 includes a front wall 20, a bottom wall 22, and arear wall 24 that define and border a trough or channel 26 for receivingand carrying water. The front wall 20 can include a decorative and/orstrengthening profile as illustrated. A flange 28 projects rearwardlyfrom an upper end of the front wall 20. The flange 28 can be formed as arearwardly projecting first portion 30 and a forwardly projecting secondportion 32. The flange 28 strengthens the gutter 10 and provides aplanar top surface to the front wall 20. The gutter 10 can be formedfrom any suitable material including aluminum, copper, and steel.

[0018] The gutter shield 100 covers the trough 26. Leaves and otherdebris are washed down the shingles 14 and onto the gutter shield 100.The gutter shield 100 prevents such debris from entering the trough 26.

[0019] The gutter shield 100 includes an extension portion 102, a coverportion 104, a curved or rounded portion 106, and a wall portion 108.Preferably, these four portions 102, 104, 106, and 108 are integrallyformed as a single piece from a suitable material such as aluminum.Other bendable materials may be used to form the gutter shield 100.

[0020] The extension portion 102 is preferably angled upwardly fromcover portion 104. A bend line 110 is formed between the extensionportion 102 and the cover portion 104. During installation of the guttershield 100, the extension portion 102 is bent as desired at bend line110 so that the extension portion 102 can be secured to a roof.Preferably, the extension portion 102 is inserted beneath the lowershingles 14 mounted on the roof 16. If desired, suitable fasteners canbe used to secure the extension portion 102 to the roof 16. Preferably,the extension portion 102 is formed as a planar member.

[0021] The cover portion 104 spans a substantial portion of the width ofthe trough 26 of the gutter 10. Preferably, the cover portion 104 is agenerally planar member angled downwardly toward the rounded portion106.

[0022] The rounded portion 106 begins with a section having a preferablyconstant radius. The rounded portion 106 terminates with a rearwardlyprojecting portion 112. Preferably, the rearwardly projecting portion112 is a planar member.

[0023] The wall portion 108 extends substantially downwardly apredetermined length. A notch 112 is formed in the wall portion 112. Thenotch 112 can be a continuous element that extends along a width of thewall portion 108 as illustrated. In other embodiments, the notch 112 canbe formed as an intermittent element extending along the width of thewall portion 108. The notch 112 results in a depression 114 formed in asurface of the wall portion 108 facing the rear wall 24 and a protrusion116 formed in a surface of the wall portion 108 facing the front wall20.

[0024] The clip 200 is preferably formed as a bendable member from arelatively thin material such as bendable steel or aluminum. Asillustrated best in FIG. 3, the clip 200 includes five zones: a first orrear wall zone 202, a second or front wall zone 204, a third or firstforward wall zone 206, a fourth or rearward wall zone 208, and a fifthor second forward wall zone 210. The rear wall zone 202 and the frontwall zone 204 are connected by a first bend 212 and spaced-apart fromone another to receive the wall portion 108 of the gutter shield 100.The front wall zone 204 includes a cavity 214 that is complementary tothe notch 112 of the wall portion 108. The cavity 214 results in adepression 216 formed in a surface of the front wall zone 204 facing therear wall zone 202 and a protrusion 218 formed in an opposite surface ofthe rear wall zone 204. When the wall portion 108 is inserted betweenthe front wall zone 202 and the rear wall zone 204, the notch 112 isreceived in and retained by the cavity 214 to secure a front edge of thegutter shield 100 to the front wall 20 of the gutter 10. Thisinstallation is simple and quick and does not require any special tools.Preferably, an assembler pushes downwardly on the gutter shield 100until the notch 112 snaps into the cavity 214. Thus, the clip 200secures or locks the gutter shield 100 to the gutter 10. In otherembodiments, the cavity can be formed in the rear wall zone 202.

[0025] The first forward wall zone 206 is connected to the rear wallzone 204 by a second bend 220. The rearward wall zone 208 is connectedto the first forward wall zone 206 by a third bend 222. The secondforward wall zone 210 is connected to the rearward wall zone 208 by afourth bend 224. The second forward wall zone 210 is spaced-apart fromthe rearward wall zone 208 to receive the flange 28 of the gutter 10. Atail 226 can be formed in the second forward wall zone 210 by a fifthbend 228 to secure the gutter clip 200 on the flange 28. The tail 28prevents the clip 200 from pulling away from the flange 28.

[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 2, a leading surface of the roundedportion 106 is spaced a predetermined distance X from a leading surfaceof the front wall 20. In other words, a plane extending through aleading surface (front) of the cover shield 100 is spaced apredetermined distance X from a plane extending though a leading (front)surface of the flange 28 of the front wall 20.

[0027] As water washes down the shingles 14 and the cover portion 104,debris may be carried along until reaching the rounded portion 106. Atthis point, debris such as leaves and the like are ejected from thegutter shield 100 and fall away from the gutter 10. Water adheres to therounded surface 106 and drops into the trough 26 upon reaching theregion of the flange 28 and/or the wall portion 108.

[0028] Preferably, the cover shield 100 is formed with a length equal toa length of a gutter 10 to be covered. The gutter shield 100 can beformed by a bending machine from a roll of stock and cut to a desiredlength.

[0029] The gutter clip 200, gutter shield 100, and gutter 10 comprise agutter assembly 250 that prevents leaves and other debris from fallinginto and possible clogging the gutter 10. The assembly 250 includes aneconomical and effective means for attached a front edge of the guttershield 100 to the gutter 10.

[0030] A second embodiment of a gutter clip according to this inventionis indicated generally at 300 in FIGS. 4 and 5. The clip 300 can beformed from a bendable material and includes a first arm 302 and asecond arm 304. The tail 326 is formed between the arms 302 and 304. Anangled cavity 314 and a gap 315 are formed in each arm 302 and 304. Thecavity 314 receives and retains a complementary angled notch 312 formedin the wall portion 108 of the gutter shield 100. Preferably, aninstaller pushes downwardly on the gutter shield 100 until the notch 312snaps into the cavity 314.

[0031] The gutter clip 300, gutter shield 100, and gutter 10 comprise agutter assembly 350 that prevents leaves and other debris from fallinginto and possible clogging the gutter 10. The assembly 350 includes aneconomical and effective means for attached a front edge of the guttershield 100 to the gutter 10.

[0032] A third embodiment of a gutter clip according to this inventionis indicated generally at 400 in FIG. 6. The clip 400 can be formed froma bendable material and includes a body 401 having a tail 426 is formedbetween a pair of arms (not illustrated) similar to arms 302 and 304. Acavity 414 and a gap 415 are formed in each arm. The cavity 414 receivesand retains a complementary notch 112 formed in the wall portion 108 ofthe gutter shield 100. Preferably, an installer pushes downwardly on thegutter shield 100 until the notch 112 snaps into the cavity 414.

[0033] A fourth embodiment of a gutter clip according to this inventionis indicated generally at 500 in FIG. 7. The gutter clip 500, guttershield 100, and gutter 10 comprise a gutter assembly 550 that preventsleaves and other debris from falling into and possible clogging thegutter 10. The assembly 550 includes an economical and effective meansfor attached a front edge of the gutter shield 100 to the gutter 10.

[0034] The clip 500 can be formed from a bendable material and includesa series of zones bent into a desirable configuration. A first zone 502and a second zone 504 cooperate to form a cavity 505 that receives andretains a wall portion 108 of the gutter shield 100. Preferably, a notch113 formed in the wall portion 108 is pressed into the cavity 505. Notch113 results in a depression formed in a surface of the wall portion 108facing the front wall 20 of gutter 10 and a protrusion formed in anopposite surface of the wall portion 108. If desired, a dimple 507 canbe formed in the first zone 502 that assists in the retention of thewall portion 108 in the cavity 505.

[0035] A third zone 506 connects a fourth zone 508 to the second zone502. A fifth zone 510 is spaced from the fourth zone 508 to form acavity 509. The cavity 509 receives and retains the flange 28 of thegutter 10. If desired, a notch 511 can be formed in the fifth zone 510to engage and retain the second portion 32. A sixth zone 512 can beconnected to the fourth zone 508 and extend back toward the second zone502 to strengthen the clip 500.

[0036] In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, theprinciple and mode of operation of this invention have been explainedand illustrated in its preferred embodiments. However, it must beunderstood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spiritor scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A gutter assembly for a structure comprising: agutter having a front wall with a flange, a bottom wall, and a rear wallthat define and border a trough; a gutter shield having a cover portion,a rounded portion, and a wall portion; a gutter clip including a firstportion secured to the wall portion of the gutter shield and a secondportion secured to the gutter.
 2. The gutter assembly specified in claim1 wherein the second portion of the gutter clip is secured to the flangeof the front wall.
 3. The gutter assembly specified in claim 1 whereinthe wall portion includes a notch that is retained in a cavity of thefirst portion of the gutter clip.
 4. The gutter assembly specified inclaim 1 wherein the flange of the front wall is retained between twowall zones of the second portion of the gutter clip.
 5. The gutterassembly specified in claim 1 wherein the gutter clip includes a rearwall zone, a front wall zone, a first forward wall zone, a rearward wallzone, and a second forward wall zone.
 6. The gutter assembly specifiedin claim 5 wherein a cavity is formed in one of the rear wall zone orthe front wall zone and receives a notch formed in the wall portion ofthe gutter shield.
 7. The gutter assembly specified in claim 5 includingat a tail formed at a terminus of the second forward wall zone.
 8. Thegutter assembly specified in claim 7 wherein the tail prevents thegutter clip from pulling away from the flange of the gutter.
 9. Thegutter assembly specified in claim 5 wherein the gutter clip is formedas a single element from a bendable material.
 10. A gutter assembly forcovering a gutter comprising: a gutter shield having a cover portion, arounded portion, and a wall portion; and a gutter clip including a firstportion secured to the wall portion of the gutter shield and a secondportion secured to the gutter.
 11. The gutter assembly specified inclaim 10 wherein the wall portion of the gutter shield includes a notchthat is retained a cavity formed in the first portion of the gutterclip.
 12. The gutter assembly specified in claim 11 wherein the cavityis formed in an arm of the gutter clip.
 13. The gutter assemblyspecified in claim 12 wherein the notch and cavity each have acomplementary angled configuration.
 14. The gutter assembly specified inclaim 10 wherein the gutter clip includes a rear wall zone, a front wallzone, a first forward wall zone, a rearward wall zone, and a secondforward wall zone.
 15. The gutter assembly specified in claim 14 whereina cavity is formed in one of the rear wall zone or the front wall zoneand receives a notch formed in the wall portion of the gutter shield.16. A gutter clip for securing a gutter shield wall portion having anotch to a gutter comprising: a wall; a cavity formed in the wallcomplementary to the notch, wherein the notch snaps into the cavity tosecure the gutter shield wall portion to the gutter, and means forsecuring the wall to the gutter.
 17. The gutter clip specified in claim16 wherein the gutter clip is formed as a single element from a bendablematerial.
 18. The gutter assembly specified in claim 16 wherein thegutter clip includes a rear wall zone and a front wall zone, wherein thecavity is formed in one of the rear wall zone or the front wall zone,the gutter clip further includes a first forward wall zone, a rearwardwall zone, and a second forward wall zone, wherein the gutter isreceived between the rearward wall zone and the second forward wall zoneto retain the clip on the gutter.
 19. The gutter assembly specified inclaim 18 including at a tail formed at a terminus of the second forwardwall zone.
 20. The gutter assembly specified in claim 19 wherein thetail prevents the gutter clip from pulling away from the flange of thegutter.
 21. A gutter assembly for a structure comprising: a gutterhaving a front wall with a flange, a bottom wall, and a rear wall thatdefine and border a trough; a gutter shield having a cover portion, arounded portion, and a wall portion; and a gutter clip having a firstcavity to receive the wall portion of the gutter shield and a secondcavity to receive the flange of the gutter.
 22. The gutter assemblyspecified in claim 21 wherein the first cavity is defined by a pair ofspaced apart zones.
 23. The gutter assembly specified in claim 21wherein one the zones includes a dimple to secure the wall portion ofthe gutter shield.
 24. The gutter assembly specified in claim 21 whereinthe second cavity is defined by a pair of spaced apart zones.
 25. Thegutter assembly specified in claim 24 wherein one the zones includes anotch to secure the flange of the gutter.